Integrated RFID sensor method and system

Abstract

A healthcare system is provided with RF sensor modules that can be integrated into various components and subsystems or that can be retrofit. Sensors modules include a sensor adapted to detect operational data. The modules may process and store the data, and perform aggregation functions to simplify or reduce the data. The data is then collected from the modules by an RF transceiver and conveyed to downstream processing layers. The processing layers may evaluate the operation of the components or subsystems, or the overall health or functioning of the component, subsystem, or any other useful subdivision of the healthcare system.

1 . A medical equipment system comprising:
 a medical data subsystem configured to access medical data;   a data processing subsystem configured to at least partially process the medical data for use in providing medical care;   a controller subsystem for regulating operation of the medical data subsystem and the data processing subsystem;   a plurality of sensors associated with at least one of the medical data subsystem, the data processing subsystem and the controller subsystem for collecting serviceable medical equipment parameter data relating to an operational state of the associated subsystem, each sensor being operatively associated with a radio frequency (RF) transmitter; and   an RF reader for retrieving sensor data and location data from the associated subsystem by RF transmission from the respective transmitter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment system is an imaging system, the medical data includes image data, and the data processing subsystem processes the image data to derive therefrom data for reconstructing a medical image. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the subsystems and the RF reader are internal to the imaging system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an evaluation module for determining operational servicing needs for the medical equipment system based upon the serviceable medical equipment parameter data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the RF transmission is the sole data transmission link between the sensors and the evaluation module. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the evaluation module is remote from the medical imaging system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter coupled to at least one of the sensors for aggregating at least part of the serviceable medical equipment parameter data, wherein the aggregated sensor data is subject to collection via the transmitter and the reader. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a security module operationally associated with the transmitter, the security module regulating access to the serviceable medical equipment parameter data. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the security module encrypts the serviceable medical equipment parameter data. 
     
     
         10 . A system for servicing medical equipment comprising:
 a subsystem including an integrated radio frequency (RF) sensor device including: a memory to store medical equipment information, a sensor portion including a sensor to measure serviceable medical equipment parameter data and in communication with the memory, a filter for aggregating at least part of the sensor data, and a transmitter for outputting at least part of the aggregated data and stored medical equipment information; and   an RF reader for retrieving the aggregated data and medical equipment information from the transmitter and extracting medical equipment information from the aggregated data for transmission to a service system that evaluates the serviceable medical equipment parameter data.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the equipment information includes location and identification data for the subsystem. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the medical equipment includes an imaging system including a plurality of subsystems having respective integrated RF sensor devices, at least one of the subsystems being configured to acquire medical image data. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the subsystems and the RF reader are internal to the imaging system. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an evaluation module for determining operational servicing needs for the medical equipment system based upon the aggregated data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein RF transmission is the sole data transmission link between the integrated RF sensor devices and the evaluation module. 
     
     
         16 . A medical equipment service system comprising:
 a medical equipment system including a plurality of radio frequency (RF) linked subsystems, each of the subsystems including a sensor for collecting serviceable medical equipment parameter data from the subsystem and an RF transmitter for transmitting the operational data from the subsystem;   an RF reader for retrieving the serviceable medical equipment parameter data from the subsystems; and   a service system for evaluating the serviceable medical equipment parameter data retrieved via the RF reader and for determining operational servicing needs for the medical system based upon the serviceable medical equipment parameter data.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a data aggregation filter for deriving service data from the serviceable medical equipment parameter data. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the RF transmission is the sole data transmission link for collecting the serviceable medical equipment parameter data from the sensors. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the service system is remote from the medical equipment system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a security module operationally associated with the transmitter, the security module regulating access to the serviceable medical equipment parameter data. 
     
     
         21 . A system for servicing medical equipment comprising:
 a contributing entity contributing to the provision of medical care via an article, the article including an integrated radio frequency (RF) sensor device including: a memory to store medical article information, a sensor portion including a sensor to measure serviceable medical article parameter data and in communication with the memory, a filter for aggregating at least part of the sensor data, and a transmitter for outputting at least part of the aggregated data and stored medical article information;   an RF reader for retrieving the aggregated data and medical article information from the transmitter; and   an analysis system that identifies defects or service needs to the contributing entity based upon the aggregated data and the medical article information.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the article is portable, and the sensor collects the serviceable medical article parameter data during movement of the article. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the contributing entity is a supplier of articles to a medical institution that renders medical care utilizing the articles. 
     
     
         24 . A method for servicing medical systems comprising:
 storing data in a sensing module associated with a medical asset, the data including data representative of: the identification of the medical asset, at least one sensed parameter of the medical asset, and the location of the medical asset; and   via a radio frequency (RF) reader, collecting the data from the sensing module.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the medical asset is stationary. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the medical asset is mobile. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising locating the medical asset based upon the collected data. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising evaluating a need for service of the medical asset based upon the collected data. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising similarly collecting data from other similar medical assets and aggregating the data to determine an asset management strategy for the assets. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the management strategy includes determining a need or availability of similar assets.